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I think the nav head unit must have better sound quality then the others. In ours the sound is pretty decent. Could be the 5 band graphic EQ though. Any way, it could use some fuller base, but over all the sound seems adequate to me. Anyone with the navi feel differently?

Can some users download a decibel meter app on the smartphone and gather some readings at their highway speeds?

I borrowed my mother's iPhone 4 and downloaded the Decibel 10 free app.I took some readings at 72-78 MPH with no music on and the fan speed at 1. The cabin noise varied from 82-88 dB and peaked at 96 dB (probably hit a bump or rough patch).

I will try and borrow the X5 tomorrow and do another reading at the same speeds and similar conditions.

I know that my test isn't completely accurate as I'm trusting a phone and a random app. I'm not looking at actual readings but relative readings to see if it is just my bias towards BMW's making me hear things or if it is just louder.

Didn't get to test out the X5 yet but I tried with a X6. At 80 MPH, it was getting a reading of 72-74 dB with a peak of 76 from a rough patch. Now I think a 10 dB change is a lot and my recorded sound levels tell me that the apparent sound is doubled from 70 to 80 dB.

I'll test with the X5 later today once it is back home. I'd also love some measurements from other drivers just to see if my car is an anomaly. I feel that Subaru cannot release a car that is this loud and not have anybody but me complain about it.

Edit: Back with the X5. I recorded 72-76 dB at 80 MPH and peaks at 79 dB over rough roads. The Purdue website says prolonged exposure at 80 dB can cause hearing damage; now, I'm not saying this car will cause hearing damage but it can get "annoyingly loud" over time -- such as a 1 hour drive into the city or a 2 hour drive to Philly.

I remember seeing a demo video of an early pre-release model with a Subaru employee (who didn't speak too much english) showing how in the 5-door, you could stow the retractable cargo cover underneath the floor with the spare. I have a limited and couldn't find a slot to sit it in - does the car still have it?

If you have the floor in the raised position there is enough room to fit the cover underneath it. Not sure if this is what you're looking for or not

Sound deadening materials were used more in the 2012 Impreza than the previous style. They now added panels in the engine compartment and one on the CVT trans. Wind noise probably has to do with the aerodynamics.

Since we never tested a WRX wagon, a direct comparison is a little tricky because a wagon has a cargo area that acts like a noise-enchancing echo chamber. As expected, then, the Saab wagon's sound levels surpass the WRX sedan's at both wide-open throttle (78 dBA versus 75) and 70-mph cruising (73 versus 71). In spite of that, the Saab somehow seems quieter, maybe in part because it has eliminated much of the Subaru's tin-box effect, especially the cacophony of road pebbles ricocheting off the wheel wells and undercarriage.

That is correct, there are more sound deadening materials in the new Impreza than previously. A few comments about the situation:

- You folks are relying on decibel meters that applications on smartphones. The microphones are not calibrated for use as a decibel meter. Before you raise the concerns about the car being too loud and even attempting to make comparisons to sound levels that can cause hearing loss, please get a credible db meter first.
- MINIz guy, I understand you may have BMWs in the household, but please refrain from making comparisons to them. I understand that you probably are using it as a baseline comparison, but you're making apples to oranges comparisons. BMW = luxury, Subaru = utility. Not trying to give you a hard time, I'm just sayin'
- While I'm not trying to defend the car, (for those of you that have been following my plight, you KNOW that I have had the biggest problem with the purchase of the vehicle - pretty sure that I'm the only one in this thread with a previous lemon) keep in mind that this is not a luxury car, it is an economy car that is geared towards giving the best value to the consumer. Subaru's focus is to deliver that with minimal cost.

It is not a $40,000 dollar car. It is the least expensive car Subaru produces.

Comparing it to a BMW is a futile exercise.

I think the car is great and is better than comparable models at the same price, especially if you want AWD.

If you live in the south and don't need AWD then maybe a Mazda would be better for you. However if this winter is a taste of things to come you are getting more snow in the south than in upstate NY! Keep in mind AWD in the rain is also a benefit...

Drove a premium hatch cvt with the awp, moonroof, ally wheel packages, which is what I aim to get, and I'm sold on it. Last cars were 05 lgt, 10 legacy 3.6R and currently a 10 civic ex since I drive 300-500 miles a week for work now. The cvt feels so different but was quite quick off the line. Only got a little freeway time but didn't have a problem accelerating while getting on. Didn't try to pass anyone tho. Still comfy, fairly quiet and the radio is no worse than in my civic, which I happen to think is perfectly fine for what I listen too. It's roomy, lots of storage space for my random stuff and seats have more cushion than my civic.

So as long as I can pass the occassional slow driver and get at least 30mpg with my 50/50 driving, can't see any car that can top it for the $$$.

I just got down to one bar and filled up 12.111 gallons, 301 miles. The dash gauge said 26.7mpg, my actual calculation was 24.9, I'm not very happy with that, not even getting close to the city estimate. Car has over 1700 miles on it now.

I just got down to one bar and filled up 12.111 gallons, 301 miles. The dash gauge said 26.7mpg, my actual calculation was 24.9, I'm not very happy with that, not even getting close to the city estimate. Car has over 1700 miles on it now.

Not close to the city estimate? 27 MPG is the city rating, ~2 MPG is pretty close IMO.

That is correct, there are more sound deadening materials in the new Impreza than previously. A few comments about the situation:

- You folks are relying on decibel meters that applications on smartphones. The microphones are not calibrated for use as a decibel meter. Before you raise the concerns about the car being too loud and even attempting to make comparisons to sound levels that can cause hearing loss, please get a credible db meter first.

I'm not complaining it's loud just ran it to see what I got so MiniZGuy could have a comparison since he asked. I'm happy with the car. I actually think my window moisture is resolving on its own too. All my issues seem to be fixing themselves. How's your NEW car treating ya?

I just did it using Decibel 10 & got as low as 74-78dB during one test. The other 5 I got from 78-82dB with a peak of 86dB when I did hit a bump. No radio, fan off in half & set to 1 in the other half. Tried it on concrete area of highway & also on asphalt area with the concrete running slightly louder. I was driving between 68-75mph. It was wet ground from a light rain/snow so that may have contributed to some noise.

I couldn't find that Appzilla one for the iPhone but also did it with Decibel Ultra & got around the same, averaging from 78-82dB.

I don't know how on earth Bimmer2 got in the 40s. Doesn't make sense. Sitting parked at a red light I was reading 50s & sitting on my couch in a quiet room I got in the 40s. At 40s the app said across the top "Average quiet room" & at the high 70s it said "Average inside car"

Oh, I missed this post. Thanks a bunch for this!

If the apps are similar throughout the range with similar tuning, ie: the app's 70 dB is the same throughout all phones even if it isn't really 70 dB, then it does seem that mine is louder by about 5 dB's as I never saw mine drop below 82 dB. Maybe this 5 dB is annoying me but I guess I'm chasing numbers at this point.

It is going into service next week for other issues and I did mention for them to look at the road noise.

And I know I keep on going on about BMW's and I'm sorry for that. They are the only 2 cars I have access to so I automatically revert to them when I feel something is wrong with the Subaru. I want to like the Subaru but who knows, there might actually be something wrong with it.

I'm not complaining it's loud just ran it to see what I got so MiniZGuy could have a comparison since he asked. I'm happy with the car. I actually think my window moisture is resolving on its own too. All my issues seem to be fixing themselves. How's your NEW car treating ya?

SleepNMnky, not meant towards you or anyone per se, just a general comment. New car has been good so far (knock on wood). I feel that the cloth interior has slightly more comfortable seats, but I am definitely liking the leather! It looks like the side bolsters are vinyl, which is good considering that area tends to wear and crack often. I had a small bit of condensation in both headlights the day after I picked up the car, but it cleared up after about an hour. Picked up my preorder goodies yesterday, remote start and moonroof visor! I am happy to be back into the (new) car!

So my wife ran the car almost dry this past weekend to see how far she could go. It kinda freaked her out when the estimated mileage said she had 30 miles left, but when she got stuck behind some slow moving truck it dropped down to "---"! lol In the end she put on 397 miles and her MPG was 27.5. Lots of highway driving, but my wife has a bit of a lead foot.

Also she doesn't notice a smell anymore, put a little bit of baking soda in a yogurt container and poked some holes in the lid. And I noticed water drops on the driver side window when I rolled it up yesterday even though they rolled down dry.

Installed. Notice you can really only see it if you lay your head on the ground, otherwise, it's underneath the bumper. This is the Draw-Tite one on my 2012 Impreza 5-door.

I was just looking at Outbacks yesterday at the dealer because i need something to tow a very light trailer with on rare occasions. I thought the Impreza Sport was incapable of towing but noticed the showroom Impreza Sport has a rectangular cut-out in the bumper right where a trailer hitch would go. If that's not for a hitch, what in heck is it for? It can also be seen in the photo you posted.

Another question I have is, when doing the hitch installation, were there mount holes built-in to the car? ie; is the Impreza actually set-up at the factory to accept a hitch? Thanks.

Thats what I'm having an issue with. Seems that an unually high amount of moisture accumulates in the doors.
To those who have removed door panels on these, do the doors have a plasic layer between the door and panel?
I think the lower window seals dont do a very good job. At highway speeds I can feel a draft by the inside door handle with the window up.

I just got down to one bar and filled up 12.111 gallons, 301 miles. The dash gauge said 26.7mpg, my actual calculation was 24.9, I'm not very happy with that, not even getting close to the city estimate. Car has over 1700 miles on it now.

my GF's car did the same thing until it was fully broken in....now gets 31-33mpg on avg

I thought the Impreza Sport was incapable of towing but noticed the showroom Impreza Sport has a rectangular cut-out in the bumper right where a trailer hitch would go. If that's not for a hitch, what in heck is it for? It can also be seen in the photo you posted.

It's where a European Impreza would have a rear fog light.

EDIT: Here's a German speced XV, which would have the same rear fog marker as the Impreza.